E.S.T.'s second U.S. outing offers palatable, often lively acoustic jazz with tantalizing electronic flourishes. It's similar in thrust to the trio's 2001 U.S. debut, Somewhere Else Before, but not as strong melodically. Still, leader/pianist Esbjörn Svensson, bassist Daniel Berglund, and drummer Magnus Öström deliver some heated improvisational exchanges, particularly later in the program on the speedy, almost Mehldau-esque "When God Created the Coffee Break" and the post-bop boogaloo blues "Spunky Sprawl."

Already on the first piece, "The Message", the album’s tone is made clear. It originates out of the so-called "free play" that was recorded in May 2001.The soft, gospel-like quality of "the Message", in which Jan Johansson’s ubiquitous spirit can be felt, is not really typical for E.S.T.

The “Jazz album of the decade 2000 – 2010” (London Times). In a word: wow. Since their 1993 debut album, the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, or E.S.T., as it is usually called, have taken the jazz world by storm, winning numerous awards, playing sold-out world tours, topping the charts, and generally enjoying a popularity that's exceeded that of almost any other jazz group in years. The trio was also the first European jazz group to grace the cover of Down Beat magazine, which led to long discussions about the heritage of jazz and the validity of European jazz; and, naturally, it caused some listeners to perceive an artificial hype and discredit the band for simply not being as brilliant as everyone says they are.

Though jazz was born and bred in the United States, its influence long ago spread throughout the world, and its popularity overseas has continued to grow even as its significance on the American music scene has waned. This Swedish group, also known as the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, is among the jazz trios to land on North American shores, and their acoustic jazz sound seems certain to build a following in the States.

"Winter in Venice" is the band’s fourth CD, following "When Everyone Has Gone" (Dragon, 1993), "Mr. And Mrs. Handkerchief" (Prophone, 1995), and "EST Plays Monk" (BMG, 1997). "Winter in Venice" is at the same time the group’s first CD, in that it is the first independent profile that exhibits the three musicians in their present form. The 13 original compositions show them as sensitive masters of communication with the penchant for transforming simple, pretty melodies into complex networks of motifs.

Thelonius Monk was one of the truly great piano geniuses on the international jazz scene.Esbjörn Svensson is one of the truly great piano talents on the Scandinavian jazz scene.In some way you knew that they had to meet sooner or later. At last spiritually. And musically. "Plays Monk" is the telling title of the CD from 1996 by Esbjörn Svensson Trio (EST), now released on ACT. Ten of the most beloved songs by Monk, from nocturnal, lovingly caressing "`Round Midnight" to the gay and sprightly "Rhythm-A-Ning", gets here a becomingly shining new colour.

Clearly it's difficult to listen to any jazz recording without making comparisons with other great artists who have gone before them. In the last couple of decades, the position occupied by Keith Jarrett's Standards Trio has almost demanded that such comparisons should be made with them, and those who are fans of Jarrett will not be disappointed here. But this 1993 (and also pre-ACT) recording in the wide-ranging catalogue of the Esbjorn Svensson Trio not only establishes them as artists who march to the beat of their own orignal drum, but offers the listener a signpost to how the trio would emerge over the next decade or so.

Currently one of Europe's leading forces in the jazz world, e.s.t. (Esbj”rn Svensson Trio) brings their unique and unmistakable sound stateside with the release of their new album, Tuesday Wonderland. This album is an eclectic mix of classical, melodic jazz and electronics with the feel of an energetic pop/rock show, making it a must-have for all music lovers. The album been released in Europe on September 2006, and was nominated in in the Best Jazz Album category.

In January 2007 e.s.t. were on tour in Asia and Australia performing shows in Tokyo, Osaka, Yokohama, Jakarta, Perth and Sydney. It was their third tour of Japan and their second time on the fifth continent and the venues and audiences had become noticeably bigger. Only a few weeks before they had finished their triumphant tour of Germany performing their now legendary Live in Hamburg concert (awarded Album of the Decade by the London TIMES). It was undoubtedly the prime time of the style defining jazz band of the Noughties. Esbjörn Svensson, Magnus Öström and Dan Berglund decided to rent the famous Studio 301 in Sydney for their off-days in the middle of the Australian tour and jammed for two consecutive days to develop new songs and material.